Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2414
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2414
20 Aug 2024
 | 20 Aug 2024

Air Pollution in The Upper Troposphere: Insights from In-Situ Airplane Measurements (1991–2018)

Kuo-Ying Wang, Philippe Nedelec, Valerie Thouret, Hannah Clark, Andreas Wahner, and Andreas Petzold

Abstract. Long-lived atmospheric species like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and CFCs exhibit discernible trends reflecting anthropogenic emissions, with increases observed in CO2, CH4, N2O, and decreases in CFCs. Conversely, trends for short-lived species like carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) remain less understood due to rapid chemistry and limited upper tropospheric observations. We utilize extensive in-situ CO measurements spanning 2012–2023, supplemented by prior airplane campaigns from 1991–2019, to examine short-term fluctuations in CO influenced by anthropogenic emissions and rapid chemical removal. Comparisons with MOPITT satellite data and chemistry budgets from 1948–2003 simulations further elucidate the interplay of sources and sinks, revealing the significant impact of chemistry on CO profiles and trends.

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Kuo-Ying Wang, Philippe Nedelec, Valerie Thouret, Hannah Clark, Andreas Wahner, and Andreas Petzold

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2414', Anonymous Referee #1, 24 Sep 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2414', Anonymous Referee #2, 05 Oct 2024
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2414', Anonymous Referee #3, 07 Oct 2024
Kuo-Ying Wang, Philippe Nedelec, Valerie Thouret, Hannah Clark, Andreas Wahner, and Andreas Petzold
Kuo-Ying Wang, Philippe Nedelec, Valerie Thouret, Hannah Clark, Andreas Wahner, and Andreas Petzold

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Short summary
We use routine in-service commercial passenger airplanes Airbus A340 and A330 to collect air pollutants in the upper troposphere. The beauty in using commercial airplanes is that these commercial airplanes, like taxi on the ground, keep flying all the time. We find that short-lived air pollutants are very sensitive to ground-level emissions. Effective regulation in ground-level emissions can help to reduce air pollution in the upper troposphere.